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The Civil Contract Party’s board discussed the conduct of former MP Hayk Sargsyan at its September 15 meeting, following recent public statements by Sargsyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, but made no decision on his party membership, Civil Contract faction MP Hasmik Hakobyan told reporters.
According to Hakobyan, the party’s Oversight Commission presented reports on around six or seven party members based on studies it had already conducted.
“There were reports on around six or seven party members by the Oversight Commission, based on studies that had already been conducted. There was also a discussion regarding Mr. Hayk Sargsyan — not a decision, but there was a discussion,” Hakobyan said.
She said the discussion concerning Sargsyan also touched on statements made days earlier by Prime Minister and Civil Contract Party board chairman Nikol Pashinyan.
“Regarding Mr. Sargsyan, the prime minister has clearly articulated [the issue]. One of the most concerning things, for example, is damaging the party’s good reputation and defamatory statements concerning various party colleagues. The prime minister pointed to various episodes, which we discussed,” Hakobyan said.
According to the MP, discussions concerning Sargsyan may continue.
“Of course, I think these discussions will continue in the near future,” she said.
Asked whether she considered it possible that the discussions could result in a decision to expel Sargsyan from the party, Hakobyan recalled that Civil Contract members had previously been expelled for similar disciplinary violations.
“We have had party colleagues whose similar conduct, such as defamatory statements, damaging the party’s good reputation and so on, has resulted in their expulsion from the party,” she said.
Former Civil Contract MP Hayk Sargsyan said in a September 6 interview that his relations with a group of fellow party members had begun to deteriorate after he raised, in a critical speech within the party, what he described as issues involving the spread of criminal subculture, illegal sand mining and illegal logging in Tavush.
On September 11, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed Sargsyan’s statements, describing his political positioning as “one of the most dishonest manifestations” he had seen and saying that tensions in the party over Sargsyan were actually related to a number of wrongdoings allegedly committed by the latter. Pashinyan also said that criminal proceedings had been launched over Sargsyan’s public statements.